(Added by [Tr].) Since the
present book: Self-Building of Ayatullah Ibrahim Amini deals with Islamic
Mysticism, I thought it appropriate to include here the translation of a famous
mystical poem of Imam Khomeini (R.A.) [1] -the most celebrated gnostics of our
times -as a gift to our readers. These verses were composed by the late Imam
(R.A.) a little before when he permanently joined his beloved God-Almighty,
leaving this temporary abode -with a tranquil, and contented heart , a spirit
full of joy, and a conscience hopeful ( of receiving) God' s forgiveness. The
following are the mystical verses:

Seeing, the manifestation of
Your Glory, I become saturated with joy and ecstasy.

[*] During the
spiritual migration or gnostic journey (ser wa salook), away farer (salik)
gradually succeeds in witnessing divine illumination which are revealed to him
intermittently. i.e. He witnesses at certain instants then it disappears. How
such things occur are beyond description and those who have experienced it are
helpless to explain it to others.

Ibn abi al-Hadid Moatazali
writes:

"Whatever the most
celebrated gnostics have said has been obtained from the Commander of the
Faithful Imam' Ali (A). He says: 'Sheikh Abu Ali Sina and Qashiri, whatever
about the status of wayfarer and his journey have said is quoted from the words
of Imam' Ali (A) Following is an example: Sheikh Abu Ali Sina has said:

'When a wayfarer in his determination reaches to a
certain limit pleasant ecstasies from Divine illumination becomes manifested
for him like the lightening sparks which shines and become silenced. This state
has been called by the learned mystics as a situation whereby a wayfarer is
confronted with the joy of union and pain of separation (with the beloved)
alternately. i.e. After the illumination is silenced the wayfarer is filled
with grief and pain. The more deeper a wayfarer goes into asceticism this
situation becomes further intense.'

-Share Isharat, vol.3 p-384.

And these are the meanings of
this first verse.

Farigh az Khud shudam wa koos
anal haq bezadam.

Hamchu Mansoor kharidar sare dar
shudam.

I forget my own existence [2]
and proclaimed the slogan -'I am the truth', and like the Mansoor Hallaj
volunteered my self for hanging [3].

The above translation and
commentary of Imam's mystical poetry was a difficult task indeed for some one
like me, but thanks God that it has been accomplished. I have utilized the most
common mystical terms and phrases which are most conventional among gnostics.
However, it must be admitted that Imam Khomeini 's level of mysticism (irfan)
is far higher that its interpretation could be limited to such conventional
mystical boundaries.

Notes

[1] Imam Ruhollah Mousavi
Khomeini: Was born on the 20th Jamadi-ul- Thani 1281 A.H. (1902 AD in Khomein (Isfahan
Province), in Iran. His father was Sayyid Mostafa Khomeini, a well-known and
beloved scholar of his day, martyred by the agents of Reza Khan (the father of
the deposed Shah). His father left three sons and three daughters. Imam
Khomeini was the youngest in the family. Imam Khomeini lost both his tutors,
his mother and aunt at the age of 15.

The Father and Founder of the
Islamic Revolution in Iran studied Islamic sciences under the guidance of his
elder brother Ayatollah Pasandideh. Ayatollah Khomeini also underwent special
instructions with the help of Sheik Abdul-Karim Ha'eri Yazdi in 1922. When
Ayatollah Ha'eri Yazdi passed away in 1937, Imam Khomeini was established as a
genius scholar of high distinction.

Imam Khomeini was well versed in
Islamic Jurisprudence, Philosophy, Mysticism, and Astronomy. In the
earliest" Fatwa" issued by Imam Khomeini in 1963, he condemned the
shah's regime for its complete subordination to foreign powers specifically the
United States. He further criticized the deposed Shah for maintaining close
political, economic, military, and intelligence ties with Israel and his
anti-Islamic policies.

Imam Khomeini was first arrested
after the uprising on June 1963 and finally exiled to Turkey. In October 1965,
Imam Khomeini moved to the Holy City of Najaf (Iraq). From Najaf, Imam Khomeini
continued to issue fatwas (religious guidance). The deposed Shah who hoped that
by sending Imam Khomeini to an exile, he would succeed in preventing the Imam's
influence and totally diminishing his popularity. The Shah was frustrated.
Throughout the fourteen years of the exile in Najaf, Imam Khomeini continued
his ceaseless campaign.

The success of Islamic
Revolution of Iran springs out from his untiring endeavors in awakening and
directing the Ummah. It was in December 1978, when one of the greatest of all
the demonstrations took place. It can be said to be an exceptional
demonstration in the history of the world. This demonstration paved the way for
the escape of the Shah, his final overthrow and ultimate triumph of the Islamic
Revolution.

[2] When the gnostic journey of
a wayfarer ends his interior becomes a mirror of God-Almighty whereby real
pleasures descend upon him. At this stage he feels happy and joyful with
himself, because he sees something special within his innerself. Sometimes the
gnostic looks at God-Almighty while at other times he looks at him, thus,
finding himself wavering between these two views. Eventually, he reaches to a
point where his ownself disappears and he sees only God-Almighty, which are the
meanings of "forgetting my own existence" .In gnostic terms this
stage is also called being annihilated in God-Almighty (fana fillah).

[3] Means being patient,
offering resistance, tolerating difficulties, and hardships, and becoming a
target of acquisation by the people for the sake of God-Almighty. And that is
the way Imam Khomeini (R.A) was, who suffered a imprisonment, exiles, pains,
and suffering for the sake of his beloved.

[4] There is a narration from the Commander of the Faithful Imam'
Ali (A):

“God's love never passes over a thing without getting it
burnt.”

[5] The becoming the talks of the town may be explained in
the light of the following tradition quoted from the Holy Prophet (S):

“When God-Almighty loves a
person from my Ummah He fills the hearts of His favorite distinguished saints,
spirits of angels and other Heavenly creatures with his love so that all of
them love him. How fortunate is he ? How fortunate is he ? He will have the
right of intercession on the Day of Judgment. So for as a servant is not liked
by God-Almighty he does not become famous.”

-Faiz
Kashani, al Muhajatul Baiza, 7-8.

[6] The tavern here means the
spiritual position of God's Nearness attained through performance of
recommended (nawafil). In accordance with authentic narrations, after
attaining such a position, God-Almighty becomes the ears and eyes of the
servant. The eyes and ears are for seeing and listening and what pleasure could
be greater for a person than seeing and listening through those special eyes
and ears.

[7] Here the Mosque and School
mean worships which lack the conditions required for attaining God's Nearness
or they might indicate the preliminaries required for starting the gnostic
journey of a wayfarer. Islam being one of. the most perfect and comprehensive
divine religion consists of degrees and stages containing exoteric and esoteric
affairs. In order to understand its mysteries the condition of confidentiality
(mahram) is essential which is only possible through deeds, struggle,
abstinence, and guidance of Prophet's Infallible Household (A) (Ahlul Bayt).

The school, books and class are
preliminaries for understanding, understanding is preliminary for action and
action is preliminary for acquiring confidentially (mahram).

Sayyid Bin Taoos a great Shiite
scholar in his will to his son:

"My son! If you deal with
God-Almighty through the path of truth and reality, He will make your heart
like a mirror in which the knowledge which God-Almighty desires for you could
be seen, because according to the traditions of the Holy Prophet (S) it has
been mentioned that a believer looks at Divine illumination.”

-Kashf
al-Mohajateh, p-136.

In nutshell, it could be said
that the book and school which could not elevate a person to the level of
Sayyid bin Taoos or Imam Khomeini (R.A.) -one should not be blamed for being
disgusted with them which are the meanings of this verse.

[8] Means relinquishment of
moral indecencies like deceit etc., renunciation of worldly attachments, and
reaching to the real asceticism which makes a wayfarer worthy of receiving
Divine mysteries and sublime realities.

[9] Renunciation of world and
its allurements and possession of real piety and ascesticm result in
association with the Holy Prophet (S) and his Infallible Household (A) in this
world and Hereafter, which are the meanings of becoming awakened.

[10] Means the pseudo-preachers
who prevent people from nearing the real pious scholars, thus, depriving them
from being benefited from their sacred existence.

[12] Taking shelter with those
perfect and pious models who are intoxicated with God is love. The indication
here means towards the learned teachers of Imam Khomeini (R.A.).

[13] Means the Celestial Kingdom
and the Celestial Lights representing the sacred existence of Holy Prophet (S)
and his Household Ahlul Bayt (A) who are the infinite and absolute source of
blessing and guidance for the mankind.

[14] Means acceptance of
receiving the blessing guidance through the sacred light of the Holy Prophet
and his Holy House Hold (A)